Israeli Society's Embrace of False Narratives Echoes Borges' Fiction
Translated & summarized from Maariv by baba
An essay by Carmit Sapir Veitz compares contemporary Israeli society's acceptance of unsubstantiated narratives to Jorge Luis Borges' fictional "Talon" encyclopedia. Veitz argues that instead of critical examination, many Israelis readily believe in conspiracy theories and slogans, abandoning factual inquiry. She links this to a desire for simple answers amidst a difficult reality, but finds hope in historical resilience, asserting that false narratives ultimately fail.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Carmit Sapir Veitz compares Israeli society's belief in false narratives to Jorge Luis Borges' fictional "Talon" encyclopedia.
- Veitz laments that parts of the Israeli public have become a "docile herd" accepting conspiracy theories without question.
- Terms like "deep state" and "fake news" are used to avoid factual engagement, according to the author.
- The essay links this trend to a desire for simple answers in a chaotic and difficult reality.
- Veitz finds solace in the historical resilience of the Jewish people, believing false narratives cannot endure.
- The author references the prophet Isaiah's warnings against misrepresenting good and evil.
An essay by Carmit Sapir Veitz draws a parallel between Jorge Luis Borges' fictional "Talon" encyclopedia and contemporary Israeli society's tendency to accept unsubstantiated narratives. The story, published in 1940, describes how a fabricated country called "Okbar" and its fictional world "Talon" infiltrated reality, leading people to abandon their own curriculum for a manufactured history.
Veitz contrasts this with her initial belief in the inherent skepticism of Jewish culture, citing the biblical creation story where God himself examines his work. However, she observes a shift, lamenting that parts of the Israeli public have become a "docile herd" willing to believe in conspiracy theories and slogans without critical examination. Terms like "deep state," "election rigging," and "political persecution" are presented as ways to avoid engaging with facts, while "legal enforcement," "mind engineering," and "fake news" serve to shut down criticism.
The author expresses concern over the ease with which people accept fabricated realities, especially in the face of difficult national experiences like the events of October 7th and ongoing systemic failures in healthcare, transportation, and education. She notes that the desire for simple answers in a chaotic world makes fabricated worlds appealing.
Veitz connects this phenomenon to the psychiatric concept of "systematized delusion" and, more anciently, to the words of the prophet Isaiah, who warned against calling good evil and evil good. Despite the prevalence of such tendencies, the author finds solace in the historical resilience of the Jewish people, suggesting that political falsehoods ultimately cannot withstand reality and that empires built on manufactured truths have vanished while "we are still here to tell the tale."